The Supreme Court is set to re-examine the contentious ban on older petrol and diesel vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday, following a plea by the Delhi government that challenges the scientific rationale behind the existing age-based restrictions.
The current ban, based on a 2015 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order and later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, prohibits diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years from operating or even being parked in public spaces. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently directed that fuel stations in Delhi-NCR stop supplying fuel to these "end-of-life" (EoL) vehicles starting July 1, 2025.
However, the Delhi government argues that these blanket restrictions lack scientific validation and calls for a more nuanced, emissions-based approach. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran will hear the case.
The plea urges the court to direct the Centre and CAQM to conduct a comprehensive study comparing age-based bans with pollution-level-based criteria. The question at the heart of the matter is whether Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) compliant vehicles, which adhere to the latest emission standards, should still be forced off the roads purely due to age.
The policy came under sharp scrutiny after the Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, implemented the “No Fuel for Old Vehicles” rule on July 1, 2025—only to pause it within two days amid public outrage and enforcement challenges. Officials cited infrastructure limitations in tracking and verifying older vehicles.
Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa echoed the concerns raised in the petition. “There are many old vehicles that emit less because of low usage, while some new vehicles pollute more due to heavy usage. Pollution control should be based on actual emissions, not just the age of the vehicle,” Sirsa said.
The outcome of the hearing could redefine how India approaches vehicle emission policies, potentially shifting the focus from rigid age limits to real-time pollution checks based on vehicle condition and usage.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)